OLYMEL partipating in the #ColourYourPride fundraiser during Humboldt Pride Week. (Facebook/Humboldt and Area Pride Network)

By Aaron Schulze

Humboldt Virtual Pride

Humboldt Pride Week extending reach with virtual celebration

Aug 14, 2020 | 5:28 PM

Humboldt Pride Week in 2020 is different than the previous five years.

Instead of the community coming together in person, Humboldt residents have been able to show alliances from afar. The sixth Humboldt Pride Week running from Aug. 10 to 16 has been conducted virtually.

Due to provincial health guidelines amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the ability to host in-person events were up in the air at the time the Humboldt and Area Pride Network’s committee began planning.

Even though there were some digital learning curves along the way, Humboldt Pride Founder and Chair Andrew Matheson said the engagement of a virtual pride week has been larger than in previous years.

“Our flag raising on Monday saw at least double the involvement with community members by watching our pre-recorded flag raising video compared to what we’ve seen in the past with attendance in person,” Matheson told northeastNOW. “People that may have not been interested or felt unsafe attending in person are more confident.”

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Matheson said the committee wanted to plan a virtual pride week, as health guidelines wouldn’t determine if it could run legally or not. Events such as the flag raising at city hall, introductions of Humboldt Pride committee members, story readings, and the #ColourYourPride fundraiser – where homes, businesses, and groups showcase rainbow colours or the pride flag at the front of their buildings – have been able to run accordingly, and can be viewed online whenever it’s convenient.

According to feedback the committee has received from residents who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, allied, two-spirited, etc. (LGBTQIA2S+), the #ColourYourPride fundraiser has provided them with more feelings of safety and comfort.

“What better way to show you’re not alone,” Matheson said. “Even if you go out for a walk, you can see there are allies in the community, even on Main Street Humboldt. We’re a small, new group with a small, six-person committee, and we want to reach out to those businesses, and we appreciate all their support as well. There’s been a lot of feedback saying ‘if I needed to stop somewhere, I could stop in there because I feel I wouldn’t be judged for going in there.’”

Humboldt Pride Week wraps up with a virtual, online talent show and further introductions to LGBTQIA2S+ members in the Humboldt area set to publish before Sunday, Aug. 16.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow